Strawberry plant named ‘Driscoll Marin’

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry named ‘Driscoll Marin’. The variety is similar to the varieties ‘Ana Maria’ and ‘San Juan’. The variety is distinguished from ‘Ana Maria’ and ‘San Juan’, in particular, by its petiole color, achene coloration, growth habit and density, weak vigor, thick stolons, and inflorescence positioned above the foliage.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed:

The variety is botanically identified as Fragaria×ananassa.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new variety originated as a result of a controlled cross between the strawberry plants ‘67C253’ (unpatented Driscoll variety) and ‘Lido’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. PP10,534, issued Aug. 4, 1998) in an ongoing breeding program, and was discovered in a controlled breeding plot, in Monterey County, Calif. in May 1998. The original seedling was asexually propagated by stolons in a nursery in Shasta County, Calif. Propagules were transplanted to a controlled breeding plot in Ventura, County, Calif. where it was identified and selected for further evaluation. ‘Driscoll Marin’ was subsequently asexually propagated and underwent further testing at various locations in Monterey county, Calif. for two years. This propagation and testing has demonstrated that the combination of traits disclosed herein which characterize the new variety are fixed and retained true to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry named ‘Driscoll Marin’. The variety is botanically identified as Fragaria×ananassa. The new variety is distinguished from other varieties by a number of characteristics as set forth in Tables 1 and 2.

COMPARISON TO SIMILAR VARIETIES

The varieties which we believe to be similar to ‘Driscoll Marin’ from those known to use are ‘Ana Maria’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. PP11,035, issued Aug. 17, 1999) and ‘San Juan’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. PP12,899, issued Sep. 3, 2002). There are several characteristics of the new variety that are different from, or not possessed by ‘Ana Maria’, and ‘San Juan’. The new variety has achene coloration that is greyed purple to yellow, weak interveinal blistering on leaves, and a revolute terminal leaflet margin.

‘Driscoll Marin’ differs from its parent ‘67C253’ (unpatented Driscoll variety) in several characteristics, including, but not limited to, being adapted to Northern California climate, where ‘67C253’ is adapted to a Southern California climate. ‘Driscoll Marin’ also exhibits superior fruit firmness in comparison to ‘67C253’. ‘Driscoll Marin’ differs from its patent ‘Lido’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. PP10,534) in several characteristics, including, but not limited to, exhibiting intense red fruit flesh in comparison to the pale pink fruit flesh color of ‘Lido’. ‘Driscoll Marin’ also has superior late season production in comparison to ‘Lido’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the new variety, including fruit, foliage and flowers, in color as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make in color illustrations of these characteristics. The plants of ‘Driscoll Marin’ characterized in the botanical descriptions and depicted in the figures were grown outdoors in an annual production system. Measurements were taken during the late summer in the second half of the production season.

FIG. 1 shows leaves of the plants with three leaflets.

FIG. 2 shows the upper side and under side of the flowers.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up of the strawberry.

FIG. 4 shows the strawberry in longitudinal cross-section

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description of the new variety is based upon observations taken of plants and fruit grown in Monterey county, Calif., U.S.A. Observations of ‘Driscoll Marin’, ‘Ana Maria’ and ‘San Juan’ were taken in side by side comparison in 2002. This description is in accordance with UPOV terminology. Color designations, color descriptions, and other phenotypical descriptions may deviate from the stated values and description depending upon variation in environmental, seasonal, climatic and cultural conditions. Colors are described and the most similar color designations are provided from The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart.

PROPAGATION

The new variety is principally propagated by way of stolons. Although propagation by stolons is presently preferred, other known methods of propagating strawberry plants may be employed.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NEW VARIETY

Information on the new variety is presented in Tables 1, 2, 3 and 4. In the tables, the flowers described are secondary flowers except where indicated. The fruit described in the secondary fruit on one year old plants. Fruit and flower measurements are an average of both primary and secondary fruit and flowers. In particular, the reproductive structures of ‘Driscoll Marin’ are fully self-fertile and typical of the species. Anther color is yellow, 13A, pistil color is yellow, 13A, and receptacle color is 150G, yellow green.

Table 1 provides information on the plant and fruit characteristics of the new variety ‘Driscoll Marin’ compared with characteristics of ‘Ana Maria’ and ‘San Juan’. Table 2 provides additional information of the plant and fruit characteristics of the new variety ‘Driscoll Marin’ compared with characteristics of the varieties ‘Ana Maria’ and ‘San Juan’. Table 3 provides reactions of the new variety to stresses, pests, and diseases as compared to the varieties ‘Ana Maria’ and ‘San Juan’. Table 4 provides isozyme characteristics of the new variety as compared to the varieties ‘Ana Maria’ and ‘San Juan’.

TABLE 1 QUANTITATIVE COMPARISON OF ‘DRISCOLL MARIN’, ‘ANA MARIA’, AND ‘SAN JUAN’ ‘Driscoll Marin’ ‘Ana Maria’ ‘San Juan’ Plant Characteristics Height of Plant (cm) 28.8 33.6 30.1 Spread of Plant (cm) 43.5 51.8 47.1 Number of Crowns 4.1 4.3 3.8 Leaf Characteristics Terminal Leaflet Length 8.0 9.8 8.3 (cm) Terminal Leaflet Width (cm) 7.8 9.5 7.9 Terminal Leaflet 1.03 1.03 1.05 Length/Width Ratio # Teeth/Terminal Leaflet 20.3 21.3 24.6 Color of upper side medium to medium medium to dark green green dark green 147A 147A 147A Color of under side light green light green light green 147B 148B 147C Petiole Length (cm) 18.1 20.7 19 Petiole Color 145A 145B 149A Bract Frequency 58% 67% 25% typically typically typically paired single paired Stipule Length (cm) 3.6 3.4 3.6 Stipule Width (cm) 1.10 1.07 1.11 Flower Characteristics Petal Length (cm) 1.16 1.29 1.05 Petal Width (cm) 1.09 1.22 1.10 Petal Length/Width Ratio 1.07 1.05 0.95 Flower Diameter (cm) 2.15 2.15 2.15 Calyx Diameter (cm) 2.85 3.07 2.91 Fruiting Truss Length (cm) 31.1 36.9 34.0 Petal Color (cm) 155D 155D 155C Fruit Characteristics Fruit Length (cm) 4.26 3.99 4.33 Fruit Width (cm) 3.52 3.74 3.85 Fruit Length/Width Ratio 1.21 1.07 1.13 Average Berry Weight (g) 24.3 22.5 28.4 External Color dark red red dark red 53A 46A 53A Internal Color red orange red red 45A 44B 44A Average % brix 8.12 8.34 8.97 Brix/Acid Ratio 11.36 13.48 15.07 Achene Coloration greyed dark red to dark red to purple to yellow yellow yellow 46B to 16A 46B to 16A 187B to 16A Yield (g/plant) 1,349 1,504 1,225

TABLE 2 QUALITATIVE COMPARISON OF ‘DRISCOLL MARIN’, ‘ANA MARIA’ AND ‘SAN JUAN’ ‘Driscoll Marin’ ‘Ana Maria’ ‘San Juan’ Plant Habit flat globose to globose to upright flat globose Density open medium to medium open Vigor weak strong medium Leaf Shape in cross section slightly slightly flat to concave concave to slightly flat convex Interveinal blistering weak medium to medium to strong strong Glossiness weak medium weak to medium weak Number of leaflets three only three only sometimes more than 3 leaflets (approx. 17% of leaves) Terminal leaflet margin revolute flat revolute to profile flat Terminal leaflet shape of base obtuse rounded to obtuse to oblique rounded Terminal leaflet shape of teeth obtuse obtuse rounded Stipule pubescence medium sparse medium Petiole pubescence medium sparse medium Petiole pose of hairs outward to outward outward to downward downward Stolon Amount medium to medium to medium to many many many Anthocyanin coloration medium medium strong Thickness thick thin to medium medium Pubescence medium sparse to medium medium Inflorescence Position relative to foliage above level to beneath to above level with Diameter of calyx relative to same size to smaller to larger corolla on secondary flowers larger same size Diameter of inner calyx same size smaller to same size relative to outer on secondary same size flowers Spacing of petals free to free to overlapping touching touching Fruiting Truss Attitude at first picking prostrate semi-erect prostrate Fruit Predominant shape conical to conical conical to almost almost cylindrical cylindrical Difference in shapes between marked with none to very moderate primary and secondary fruits primaries slight being flattened and secondary fruit more conical Band without achenes very narrow narrow to narrow to narrow medium Unevenness of surface medium weak medium Evenness of color uneven even even even Glossiness strong strong very strong Insertion of achenes level with level with level with surface surface surface Insertion of calyx level level with to level set above Pose of the calyx segments spreading to spreading spreading to reflexed reflexed Size of calyx in relation to smaller same size to same size fruit on secondary fruit larger Adherence of calyx strong weak to strong medium Firmness of flesh firm soft to firm medium Evenness of flesh color slightly slightly slightly uneven uneven uneven to even Distribution of flesh color marginal and marginal and marginal and central central central Hollow center size medium small medium Sweetness medium medium to medium to strong strong Texture when tasted fine to fine to medium medium medium Acidity medium medium medium Time of Flowering late-March early-March early-March Harvest Interval in 2002 late-April mid-April mid-April thru early- thru early- thru early- November November November Type of Bearing partially partially partially everbearing everbearing everbearing

STRESS PEST AND DISEASE RESISTANCE AND SUSCEPTIBILITY

TABLE 3 REACTIONS TO STRESS PESTS AND DISEASES FOR ‘DRISCOLL MARIN’, ‘SAN JUAN’ AND ‘ANA MARIA’ ‘MARIN’ ‘Ana Maria’ ‘San Juan’ Reaction to Stress high pH moderately moderately moderately resistant resistant resistant high soil salt levels moderately moderately moderately resistant resistant resistant Reaction to Pests Tetranychus urticae susceptible susceptible moderately susceptible Lygus hesperus susceptible susceptible susceptible Reaction To Diseases Botrytis fruit rot susceptible susceptible susceptible Powdery mildew moderately moderately susceptible susceptible susceptible Verticillium wilt susceptible susceptible susceptible Strawberry Mottle Virus moderately moderately moderately resistant resistant resistant Xanthomanas fragariae susceptible moderately moderately susceptible susceptible

ISOZYME ANALYSIS

In addition to the morphological description above, the new cultivar ‘Driscoll Marin’ has been analyzed to obtain an indication of its genetic makeup to provide further means for identifying the new variety and distinguishing it from some other somewhat similar and/or related strawberry varieties. Specifically, leaf samples of ‘Driscoll Marin’, ‘Ana Maria’ and ‘San Juan’ were analyzed by electrophoresis for isozyme patterns of the enzymes phosphoglucoisomerase (PGI), leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) and phosphoglucomutase (PGM). See J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 106:684-687. Isozyme characterization of the three varieties is presented in Table 4, with the letters representing the banding patterns for each enzyme as designated in the above-identified article.

TABLE 4 ISOZYME ANALYSIS FOR ‘DRISCOLL MARIN’, ‘ANA MARIA’ AND ‘SAN JUAN’ Locus ‘Driscoll Marin’ ‘Ana Maria’ ‘San Juan’ PGI A3 A1 A2 LAP B3 B3 B3 PGM C2 C4 C4 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of strawberry plant, substantially as shown and described. 